Multistage hydraulic machine

Abstract

A multistage hydraulic machine includes a water chamber in a bottom ring of the highest-pressure stage. The water chamber supplies cooling water to seal gaps between rotary and stationary elements through a communication passage connected to the water chamber.

What is claimed is : 
     
       1. A dual purpose electricity generating and water pumping multistage hydraulic machine including coaxially and vertically arranged stages, the highest-pressure stage being uppermost, the machine comprising: a rotatable shaft;   a plurality of runners mounted on said rotatable shaft, each of said runners being contained in an individual runner chamber to form a plurality of stages;   a stationary element associated with each of said runners;   a seal gap between each of said runners and its associated stationary element;   means for cooling said seal gap particularly when said machine is running dry, said means including: water chamber means formed in said stationary element of said highest-pressure stage for retaining water, said water chamber means including a plurality of water chambers arranged around each of said plurality of runners associated with said highest-pressure stage and within said stationary element of said highest-pressure stage;   means for communicating water from said water chamber means to said seal gap of at least said highest-pressure stage;   means for supplying water to said water chamber means; and   movable guide vanes formed with upper and lower stems, said movable guide vanes being arranged in a circular pattern around said runner of at least said highest-pressure stage, wherein said supplying means includes a supply passage in said movable guide vanes and the upper and lower stems.     
     
     
       2. A dual purpose electricity generating and water pumping multistage hydraulic machine including coaxially and vertically arranged stages, the highest-pressure stage being uppermost, the machine comprising: a rotatable shaft;   a plurality of runners mounted on said rotatable shaft, each of said runners being contained in an individual runner chamber to form a plurality of stages;   a stationary element associated with each of said plurality of runners, said stationary element including stay vanes arranged in a circular pattern around said runner of a lower-pressure stage and a return ring between said runners;   a seal gap between each of said plurality of runners and its associated stationary element;   means for cooling said seal gap particularly when said machine is running dry, said means including: water chamber means formed in said stationary element of said highest-pressure stage for retaining water, said water chamber means including a plurality of water chambers arranged around each of said plurality of runners associated with said highest-pressure stage and within said stationary element of said highest-pressure stage;   mean for communciating water from said plurality of water chambers to said seal gap of at least the highest-pressure stage; and   means for supplying water to said plurality of water chambers, said supplying means including a supply passage in said stay vanes and said return ring.